I have long been amazed that we even have women at weddings at all. After all, she doesn’t really need to be there. K’ddushin can be done via a sh’liach. Nisuin requires no more than two witnesses and doesn’t need to involve any more than a car trip from her parents’ home to the chosson’s home.”
It sure would save on the catering costs.
In regards to Canine who asserts that it is only recently that the mothers and sisters have taken to wearing gowns – what century were you born in? Gowns have ALWAYS been worn by the mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and bridal party members (and most of the female guests as well, until recent years). When I was going to my friends’ weddings over thirty years ago, ALL the women attending were in fancy gowns.